Method for preparing a purified extraction residue fraction and its use in stimulating the immune response

Abstract

A method is disclosed for preparing a purified extraction residue fraction (antigen) of a microorganism isolated from the blood or urine of a warm-blooded animal or tumor carried by a warm-blooded animal, the microorganism having the capacity to synthesize the polypeptide hormone known as "chorionic gonadotropin" in its total form or in its alpha and beta subunits. The purified extraction residue fraction is an activator and modulator of immunological response and is capable of evoking pronounced prophylactic and therapeutic effects against a variety of tumors in laboratory animals and man. The immune response is stimulated by administering an effective immunostimulating amount of the residue fraction.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of protecting domestic chickens against avian leukosis virus, comprising: culturing in a culture medium a Progenitor cryptocides microorganism identified by ATCC No. 31,874 as isolated from a warm blooded animal carrying a malignant tumor or maglignant tumor of a warm blooded animal, the microorganism having the capacity to synthesize the polypeptide known as chorionic gonadotropin in its total form or in its alpha and beta subunits,   isolating and extracting the antigen of the microorganism from the culture medium, and   administering a therapeutic amount of the antigen of the microorganism to the chickens.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the antigen is isolated and extracted by heating the culture medium to dissolve the cell wall of the microorganism to create a solution having a cellular protein fraction and an antigen fraction, separating the cellular protein fraction from the antigen fraction, and   recovering the antigen.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the avian leukosis virus is Marek's disease virus. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the chickens are inoculated with more than one dose of the antigen at spaced time intervals.